Tribeca Review: Tow (2025)

The true story of Amanda Ogle (Byrne), a homeless Seattle woman who fought her way out of tow-company hell to reclaim her life and car after receiving a tow bill for $21,634.

Tow is directed by Stephanie Laing director of Irreplaceable You (2018) and Family Squares (2022).

This was the first film I saw at this year’s Tribeca Film Festival and it was by far the best. While there are some writing bits that are a miss, Tow tells the true story of Amanda Ogle a homeless Seattle woman and tells it quite well. I knew absolutely nothing about the true story and after watching the film I’m quite glad it was told.

The performances are really the main sell here, Rose Byrne as Amanda Ogle is a very well done performance that has the balance of comedy and the much more serious moments. It helps quite a lot that Rose Byrne is already an incredibly talented actress as well as a very humorous one, so she fits like a glove here, she captures Amanda Ogle’s actions of never giving up and not letting societal systems take her down. That’s where a lot of the inspiring feel of the film comes from and remains that way throughout the film, Byrne’s interactions with the rest of the cast quite great as well.

Dominic Sessa is also quite fantastic here, he’s much more comedic but that does not stop him from giving a genuinely great performance. His banter with Rose Byrne is genuinely entertaining, even when the dialogue is a bit bumpy at times he manages to make it into a hilarious moment. Octavia Spencer is being the powerhouse actress she is also gives a solid performance and much like Sessa has some great moments with Byrne. Demi Lovato is a bit on the miscast side of things but she’s not bad.

The film is very much an underdog story and it’s a quite beautifully told one, the theme of not letting societal systems take you down when you are fighting is quite inspiring and it’s very well told here. The writing mixes this theme with some comedy as well, some of the comedy is a bit of a miss at times with some moments feeling a bit forced. However for the most part the humor works and is able to balance itself with the dramatic moments, plus I do think the talented cast are able to take some moments that would otherwise not be so great and turn them into something solid.

It helps the film that Amanda Ogle is incredibly fleshed out as a character which makes her story all the more impactful and devastating to the viewer, there are some feel good cliches here but there are not enough to completely take away from this film. There are several moments where you are rooting for Amanda and want to see her get justice, people may scoff at $273 towing fee but to Amanda her car is her home which she fights for and never gives up.

Overall Tow is a really solid film that’s quite inspiring, between great performances, strong direction and a mostly solid balance of comedy and drama there’s a lot to really appreciate about the film. This is definitely one to look out for when it releases.

Tow currently has no release date.

8/10 B+

Tribeca Film Review: In Cold Light (2025)

Ava attempts to go straight after prison, but her twin is murdered and being a witness to the shooting, she is forced to run for her life.

Tribeca Review

In Cold Light is directed by Maxime Giroux director of Tomorrow (2008), Jo for Jonathan (2010), Felix and Meira (2014), The Great Darkened Days (2018), Norbourg (2022) and Plan B (2023).

I wish there was a lot to comment on and discuss here but unfortunately that isn’t the case with In Cold Light. It’s by no means a bad movie as the positives do help the movie stand on its legs, but a lot of the films elements just didn’t quite mesh well together in the end which ultimately stops it from being better than it could have.

The performances are the main reason to give this one a shot, Maika Monroe gives such a raw performance that quickly grabs your attention. I know that Monroe is often praised for horror performances and has become a scream queen, but in this film she shows that she can tackle dramatic roles just as well, the atmosphere compliments this well as often times the film feels like Ava’s (played by Maika Monroe) nightmare. It’s genuinely eerie at times and Monroe’s acting really displays this front and center, there’s some powerful moments that Monroe is able to nail down just because of how great of an actress she really is.

Troy Kotsur is also quite excellent, a drastic genre switch from his last performance which was CODA (2021) he delivers once again, much like Monroe he gives a raw performance. The father and daughter bond is quite grounded and very touching, there’s one particular moment here that makes clever use with the camera and the background. That scene alone really builds Kotsur’s character Will in this clever and quiet way. It’s a shame Kotsur takes a backseat towards the end of the film, because whenever Kotsur and Monroe are on screen together those end up being some of the films best moments.

The cinematography from Sarah Mishara is stylized and works pretty well especially with the nightmarish atmosphere the film is going for, although the nightmarish feel does not last throughout the whole movie. It’s just enough to give the film a somewhat unique feel, the score from Philippe Brault is electrifying and gets the viewer invested. It’s a bit of a surprise at first since it can feel a bit out of place, however once you figure out the type of atmosphere the film is going for it starts to make more sense.

What stops In Cold Light from being great comes down to is mainly the whole drug empire sections. While not bad, as I said before the movie really does not do anything differently than other films with the same sort of plot. The family aspect is what holds the film together mostly which is why it’s a bit of a shame that it’s put in the backseat towards the end. Although I will say the final five minutes are actually quite powerful and does leave an impression on you.

Overall In Cold Light mainly works do to the performances from Monroe and Kotsur, there’s some nice thrills to have here and the film itself is quite well made. There’s just a lot missing when it comes to the script and the film’s focus.

In Cold Light currently has no release date.

6/10 C+

Tribeca Film Review: How To Train Your Dragon (2025)

On the rugged isle of Berk, a Viking boy named Hiccup defies centuries of tradition by befriending a dragon named Toothless. However, when an ancient threat emerges that endangers both species, Hiccup’s friendship with Toothless becomes the key to forging a new future. Together, they must navigate the delicate path toward peace, soaring beyond the boundaries of their worlds and redefining what it means to be a hero and a leader.

Tribeca Review

How To Train Your Dragon is directed by Dean DeBlois director of the How To Train Your Dragon trilogy and Lilo & Stitch (2002) along with Chris Sanders.

The How To Train Your Dragon films are incredible and are a prime example of a series that really focused on introducing new elements with each installment and figuring out ways to get better and better. Each one has something unique to them which truly makes them special and well remembered. To say that a live action film for the first film is an odd choice would be understatement, even though the clear reason as to why is money. Despite that however this one manages to be one of the far better live action remakes and I really have to attribute that to DeBlois being in the director’s chair because he did quite a splendid job here.

The performances work very well, Mason Thames does a great job as Hiccup. He had a lot to carry on his shoulders but he manages to really put his own energy into the character, he’s not trying to do an impression of Jay Baruchel. He’s doing his own thing while also being faithful to what makes Hiccup such a great character. The bond between him and Toothless is something the film is able to capture quite well and really does bring a smile on your face, it’s mainly thanks to Thames’s performance that really holds these memorable moments together.

Nico Parker as Astrid is quite great, much of what I said about Thames making Hiccup his own can be applied here with Parker making Astrid her own. It helps that the chemistry between the two is genuinely adorable and their acting bounces off of each other very well. Gerard Butler reprises his role as Stoick and much like in the original film does really well, the father-son dynamic is strong and translates well. Nick Frost as Gobbet is different yet it’s welcome, he actually does have some genuinely funny lines here that worked.

When it comes to a technical aspect the film is excellent, the cinematography is genuinely beautiful and the film is undeniably very well made. Combined with the location you do get this sense of adventure and wonder that the original film had and that’s felt throughout film. This is something that a lot of other live action remakes tend to miss so it is refreshing to see one of these films actually look beautiful as well as managing to capture the spirit of the source material, some might say “that’s the bare minimum they should all be doing that” and that is not necessarily wrong but seeing how a majority of them have completely opted to not do that I say this is kind of shocking,

With all of that being said at the end of the day this is very much a shot for shot live action remake with small differences in between. Even though it’s a faithful one and admittedly a pretty well directed one, it does not really do anything that the original film did not do. The original film is far and away a better film simply because the emotional impact is far more present in that film than it is here, while there are touching moments here that can get the viewer to connect with these characters all over again. Seeing the same film again but in live action does not quite strike up the emotional impact.

Overall How To Train Your Dragon is still a fun time, if you liked the original film you will probably get a lot out of this one. Just don’t go in expecting anything different because you will not get that here. This is a film I will probably never go back to, but I would be lying if I said I did not have a decent time with this one.

How To Train Your Dragon releases tomorrow in theaters.

7/10 B

Tribeca Film Review: Relay (2025)

A broker of lucrative payoffs between corrupt corporations and the individuals who threaten them breaks his own rules when a new client seeks his protection to stay alive.

Relay is directed by David Mackenzie director of The Last Great Wilderness (2002), Perfect Sense (2011), Hell Or High Water (2016), Outlaw King (2018) and many others.

Relay is has the misfortune of being one of those films where you have two incredibly solid acts and then completely fumble the ball with the third act. Despite that however I do not think this is a bad movie, that’s mainly due to the performances and the first two acts being that strong.

Riz Ahmed once again knocks it out of the park, he has very limited dialogue during the first bit of the film but slowly but surely opens up more and more. He gives such a great performance that really displays how talented he is as an actor, his body language during his silent portions are enough to really bring you towards his character Tom/Ash. His speaking portions are just as great and are effective with one of the themes the film tackles loneliness, while it could have been tackled a bit harder I do think that the film does a great job of incorporating it into the story and it helps develop Tom/Ash as a character. It helps that Ahmed is a powerhouse actor and can easily bring this feeling of loneliness to the viewer.

Lily James is also quite great in fact this is definitely one of her most striking performances, you can see the fear in her character Sarah Grant’s eyes as well as the suspense. Lily James also brings this natural performance into the mix that helps make the atmosphere all the more thrilling, she’s able to capture this feel of the classic paranoia thrillers of the 70s and 80s that the film is going for quite well. She’s a natural fit that does often lead to some quite suspenseful scenes, there really is not much in the way of character development for Sarah but Lily James’s performance alone is more than enough to make up for it and keep things interesting.

Sam Worthington and Willa Fitzgerald are also fun, not a whole lot about their characters is really explored but there really did not need to be. Worthington arguing with the relay operator humorous bits that admittedly did get some laughs out of me.

As I said earlier the film is going for this feel of the classic paranoia thrillers of the 70s and 80s, which for the first two acts the film excels at doing so. Each and every scene you can feel the thrilling atmosphere creeping on you, combined with the acting these make for some very tense scenes that quickly get under the viewer’s skin. It helps that the score of the film is quite strong as well and really matches the atmospheric feel the film is going for.

Unfortunately when the third act rolls around that’s when the film quickly falls and never gets back up, what was once a thrilling ride that moved at a nice and easy pace becomes a much more action focused and not very well explained or throughout out plot twists that completely take away from the film. The action segments feel very out of place compared to the rest of the film, the plot twists completely take away a lot of what made the first two acts so great and the writing feels like it was written by a completely different person. It’s a bizarre choice that ultimately costs the film.

Overall Relay is still a decent film thanks to the performances by Riz Ahmed and Lily James who make it worthwhile as well as the atmosphere. But it’s such a frustrating experience that really makes you wish that the third act matched the well written and thrilling nature of the first two acts.

Relay releases August 22nd in theaters

6/10 C+

Tribeca Review: The Novice (2021)

An obsessive novice rower climbs the ranks of her college’s rowing team.

Finally at number one we have The Novice, which those who participated in the festival could easily see why. Everything in The Novice just blends so well together that leads to some incredible results. First off Isabelle Fuhrman gives her best performance to date, as well as giving one of the best performances of the year. She truly delivers in her role it’s raw, impactful and really shows how talented she really is. The atmosphere is thrilling to the point where it can almost be considered a horror film, the style of the film is up close and really beings you into what’s going on in certain scenes. The music also turns this film into a horror film by having a beautifully haunting feel to it, the film heavily reminded me of Whiplash which makes sense Lauren Hadaway who directs the film did the sound for Whipslash and you can easily tell. There’s so much level of care and attention to detail as well, it’s extraordinary and leads into disturbing territory. It’s a very interesting film about self destruction and how quickly it can happen. Hands down one of the best films of the year, I really hope this releases soon!

10/10 A+

Tribeca Review: No Man Of God (2021)

The complicated relationship that formed between the FBI analyst Bill Hagmaier and serial killer Bundy during Bundy’s final years on death row.

I really wouldn’t blame someone if their first reaction hearing about another Ted Bundy movie being released was “another one?!?” Because quite frankly there has been a lot of them at this point, however Amber Sealey’s No Man Of God manages to be far different from the other films. For one thing the film isn’t only about Ted Bundy it’s also about FBI analyst Bill Hagmaier which is story I feel like completely goes unnoticed at times. The performances here are quite fantastic Luke Kirby does a fantastic job as Ted Bundy, he’s intimidating, acts like him and so on this is definitely one of the best if not the best portrayal of Ted Bundy in recent memory. Elijah Wood plays Hagmaier and he does an incredible job as well, the chemistry between Wood and Kirby is fantastic and feels very real. It’s disturbing but at the same time very fascinating as to what was going on between their discussions, which is where the writing comes in. Which I truly feel is the best part about this film, the writing really shares the thoughts and discussions they shared with one another. It’s a dark film that truly delivers in every single way possible, if your a fan of true crime you are going to love No Man Of God!

10/10 A+

Tribeca Review: Catch The Fair One (2021)

A former champion boxer embarks on the fight of her life when she goes in search of her missing sister.

Catch The Fair One is one of the most intense and disturbing films so far this year, Kali Reis gives such a fantastic performance and definitely one of the best of the year. She really dives deep into her role and shows an incredible amount of talent that is showed throughout the film, the thrilling atmosphere that makes the film very uncomfortable adds so much to it as well, it brings a sense of realness to it that hits hard whenever it can. Director Josef Kubota also does a fantastic job of building an atmosphere that grabs your attention, there’s a lot of brutal moments that truly leave an impact on the viewer as well. Combine all of this with Darren Aronofsky who is one of the producers and you really have yourself a disturbing ride, this is one of those films where although a certain director is producing the film you can still feel their energy or their marks in this case Darren Aronofsky. Catch The Fair One is a revenge story that truly is one of the stronger ones, it’s an incredibly raw film that keeps things as grounded as possible. From the writing to the acting there’s so much to absolutely love about this one, if your a fan of the revenge genre be sure to watch this one once it releases!

10/10 A+

Tribeca Review: The Kids (2021)

In the early 1990s, before New York City’s mass gentrification, a group of disparate youth venture outside their broken homes into the city’s brutal streets. United by skateboarding, they cultivate a family and build a unique lifestyle that inspires Larry Clark’s 1995 groundbreaking film, “Kids.” The crew become overnight commodities, thrust into the spotlight. Left adrift under the bright lights, some discover transcendent lives and careers, while others suffer fatal consequences.

The Kids is a documentary that’s not going to be easy to talk about and it’s definitely going to be hard to review as the documentary is very self explanatory, but I feel like this discussion needs to be talked about. Almost immediately when I saw this being confirmed for the Tribeca Film Festival I knew this was going to be one of the ones I’m going to watch. The documentary is about the actors and actresses who were in the controversial film and disturbing film that released in 1995 and how they were treated terribly, felt used and taken advantage of by Larry Clark. Before I say anything about the documentary…Kids will always be one of my favorite films of all time, it was one of my major influences of getting into photography and I really appreciate what it did for indie films back in the 90s. HOWEVER I am willing to call out disgusting behavior from directors who take advantage of people and treat them horribly like what Larry Clark did in this case (Harmony Korine isn’t much better either he never stood up for the cast and pretty much abandoned them as well) the documentary itself has Hamilton Harris and a lot of other cast members talking about what happened behind the scenes and so much more. It’s a very disturbing documentary that I almost guarantee will make you very angry and question why people were actively ignoring this. The documentary goes over the deaths of Justin Pierce (who won Best Debut Performance at the Spirit Awards in 1996) and Harold Hunter the lack of never reaching out to these kids to make sure they are okay or anyway trying to help is truly gross. The kids struggled to find work and Larry Clark did nothing to help them at all, Harris ultimately does find peace with Korine and Clark’s decision not to be interviewed in the documentary. A lot of the cast members now have families of their own (Harris included) but that doesn’t erase how disturbing this whole situation was. As far as filmmaking goes the documentary is nicely crafted with tons of information that you definitely need to know about the topic, it’s truly one of the best films so far this year. I truly hope this releases soon.

10/10 A+

Tribeca Review: See For Me (2021)

When blind former skier Sophie cat-sits in a secluded mansion, three thieves invade for the hidden safe. Sophie’s only defense is army veteran Kelly. Kelly helps Sophie defend herself against the invaders and survive.

See For Me was the first film I saw at the Tribeca Film Festival and it was definitely a very strong start to it, the film uses a very interesting premise that only makes it better and authentic by having disability representation (Skylar Davenport who is actually blind) it’s truly an incredible thing to see, on top of that it’s one of the best home invasion movies in quite sometime. A lot of problems I have with the home invasion genre is a lot of it is more less the same thing, See For Me changes things up quite a bit, it gives development to Sophie (the main character) and keeps things as grounded as possible. Davenport is what truly makes this film shine, they give such a fantastic performance that really sticks with you. The atmosphere is thrilling it keeps you on the edge of your seat throughout the film. The cinematography combined with the setting and filming is another huge highlight of the film, the absolute best parts are when the house is dark with very few lights it creates something beautiful and feels like a painting almost! See For Me is a film I can definitely see a lot of people absolutely loving and rightfully so, it’s a blast of fun and at the same time a fantastic film!

10/10 A+

Tribeca Review: Poser (2021)

As Lennon fuels her desire for entree into a podcast featuring live music and conversations with the artists she so fervently admires, Lennon finds inspiration for her own musical ambitions…and a growing sense of misdirected identity.

I had a very hard time deciding where to put Poser because it’s one of those films where I know I absolutely loved it but I definitely feel like I need rewatch it again so I’m placing as the sixth best of the festival with that said let’s talk about the film. Poser is a dark satire of the art music industry it’s a very anxiety driven film especially with the main leads Bobbi Kitten who plays herself in the film (which I thought was a nice touch) and Sylvie Mix both give fantastic performances and quite honestly some of the best so far this year. The cinematography is beautifully done with a ton of scenes that have powerful writing it as well, the movie itself also has actual indie bands in it who are played by the actual people or people who are in indie bands. Which is a very smart move because it keeps things authentic especially with the story that’s being told. There’s a lot Incredible character moments that develop throughout the film and turn into something really incredible, it’s these types of moments that make the film all the more real and actually relatable in someways. Overall Poser is an incredible film that isn’t going to be for everyone but I strongly recommend seeing it when it comes out!

10/10 A+